With the four-match IND vs AUS 2023 Test series done and dusted, Team India and Australia will now resume their rivalry in white-ball cricket when they take on each other in the first match of the three-ODI series.
The series-opener is scheduled to be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India will be without their skipper Rohit Sharma who is presently attending a family wedding. In his absence, Hardik Pandya will lead the side while Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan are likely to open the innings.
Australia will also be without their skipper Pat Cummins who has decided to stay at home after the demise of his mother. In his absence, Steve Smith will continue to lead the visitors. Smith had also led Australia in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series.
The series will be an important one for both the teams as it will give them opportunity to test themselves against quality sides in conditions in which the 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be played this year.
IND vs AUS 2023, 1st ODI: Toss report:
India have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Australia in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Captains’ quotes:
Hardik Pandya:
“We’ll bowl first. It is a good track and dew factor will be there. We feel we will do well in the second innings. I got some time off, breaks are like gold dust for me so it gave me a chance to rest and improve. Playing for India every game and every format is important.
“With this being a WC year, the ODI format is important. We’ve gone with four quicks – Shardul, Shami, myself and Siraj. Two spinners in Jadeja and Kuldeep.”
Steve Smith:
“Good toss to lose. Happy batting first because I didn’t know what to do. We got to try our best to adjust to these conditions, and get our combinations right with the World Cup in mind. I think we played well in the back end, and plenty of fresh faces to choose from.
“Alex Carey is sick so he has gone home, so Josh Inglis will come in today. David Warner is not yet fully fit, so Mitch Marsh will open the batting.”
Playing XIs:
India:
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
Australia:
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa